Carbonating system



oct. 20, 1970 L. F. PAHL ET AL 3,534,944

CARBONATING sYSTEM Filed Feb. 13, 1968 2 SheetSSheet 1 ()ct. 20, 1970 L.F. PAHL ET AL 3,534,944

cARBONATING SYSTEM United States Patent 3,534,944 CARBoNATNG SYSTBM IJeof ohf, Pasadena, and NofInan ]ff. oneS, Balffxnofe, Md., asSignofS focrovvn Cofk 8 563! Company, Inc., 1 hfladelphia, I a., a cofpofafion off`Tevv York Ened Eeb. 13, 1958, Sef. No. 705,164 Inf CL Bosb 7/Z2, 7/2

U.s CL Z515z 9 ClaimS ABSTRACT of THE DISCLoSURE A cafbonating appafatusfoT carbonating of SatuTating a Hquid, pfefefably a blend of syfup andwater, With a pfedetefInined voluIne of carbon dioxide gaS. The cafbonating apparatus, vvhich Tnay include a closed tank Wvith of vvithontthe plufality of veTticany Spaced 1In plateS, iS pfovided With a nozZleiniectof aSSen1bly in the uppef poftion thefeof fof iniecting carbondioxide aS difectly into the stfeam of liquid owing into the tank. ThenoZZle iniectof aSSenlbly is pTovided With IneanS fof adiuStablycontfoHing the velocity of the liq11id pasS ing thfough the asSen1bIythefeby contfoning the amount of gaS iniected into the liquid, theapparatuS alSo utilizing the control of the pfessufe of gaS Within thetank and teInperature of the gas and liquid to contTol the diSSolv ingof the gas into the liquid.

The presenf invention relateS to an inlpToved cafbonating appaTatuS fofeffecting the Satufation of a liquid vith oafbon dioxide gaS. vVhile thecafbonating appafatus iS pfefefably oSed vvith pren1b(ed 1iquidS ofwatef and syfup fof eventua1 nse aS a carbonated bevefage, it Inay alSobe uSed in sySteIns vvhefein iuSt vvatef iS carbonated vvith the SyfIISUbSequently added dufing the bottling of the cafbonated beverage.

It is a vvell known fact that the Watef of carbonated bevefageS haS afathef n1afked anfnity fof cafbon dioxide gas and Win absoTb the same toa ceftain degfee whenevef the S11Iface of a body of the vvateT iSbfonght info contact vvith a felatively pUTe atnlosphefe of the gaS.Additionany, it iS We11 known that the degfee of l11tiInate abSorptionalSo dependS Upon the teITlpeTatllTe of the liquid and gaS and alSo onthe pfesSufe nndef Which the gas and water afe broUht into contact vvithone anothef. Heretofofe, the USual n1ethod and appafatuS fof carbonatingliquidS included nleanS fof oWing the liq11id over filIn plateS in alabyrinth ath in an atInoSpheTe of cafbon dioxide, the increasing of thelength of the labyfinth path incTeaSing the abSoT tion of gaS at a givenpfeSSufe. Z1so vv11ile apparatus of this chafacter have been hefetofofecoInn1efcially uSed fof carbonating vvater pfiof to the miXing of thewatef With a syfu1), they have not been entifely Satisfactory in 11Sewhen I1tilizing a pfeniXed liq11id of Syfup and vatef as the pTeSSureSof gaS vvithin the apparafus had to be incfeaSed unfeasonably hi gh inofdef to pfovide pfopef absofption of the gaS vvith the Water- Anadditional disadvantage of thiS apparatus when carbonating a pTenixliquid waS that the volllnle of liquid carbonated pef llnit of tine hadto be decreased aS the liquid had to be in contact With the gaS a longefpeTiod of tiIne to obtain proper abSorption.

SoIne effoftS have been Inade in the past to iniect cafbon dioxide gasdifectly into the liquid flovving into a carbonatof tank but theseappaTatUS had liI11ited capa bility as the injecforS Were Xed and thusthe appaTatus did not have 11tility iI1 adapting to vafious typeS ofliquids fequifing diffefent volumes of absoT tion. ^Ldditiona11y, SuchpTiof cafbonatoTS 11tilizing an iniection )ri11ciple had to iniect thecarbon dioxide gaS at such high pTeS Sures that it resulted in agitationof the pfoduct thuS 1)fo dUcing Unstable filliflg of the containefS.

AIl obiect of the present iI1vention is to pfovide an iInpTovedcafbonating appaTafus in vvhicf1 the aITlount of carbonation ofSatUration of liquid Inay be easily con tfolled and adj11Sted fofvafio11S typeS of liquid. 1)ue to the wide variety of Havofs, bouquetsand chafactefiSticS of 1i(11idS to be cafbonated, thefe iS Such thing asa standafd volun1e of carbonation appHcable t() aH Such liquidS. Theinlproved appafatus of the ptesent invention pfovideS fof an ecient andqllick n1eans Which Inay be adiusted fof vafioI1s beverages Which Willfesult in the Inost fapid type of carbonation fof the particulafbevefage.

AnciHary to the above obiect, it iS a f111thef obiect of the pfesentinvention to pfovide a carbonating appa fatus Which n1ay be accufatelyadiI1Sted fof pfedetefInined aIno11ntS of carbonation requifed bydiffefent pfoducts, the control being S11ch that when the apparatus isSvvitched back fof use with a pafticulaf foduct, the fes111tS afeuniforn1,

Anothef obiect of the pfeSent invention iS to )fivide an appafatuS VhichUtilizeS cafbon dioxide gaS at lowef pfeSsufeS for carbonating theliquid to the saIne degree aS pfevio11s appafatUS and at a n1ofe fapidTate of caf bonation withont unduly effecting of pfoducing an unStablecaTbonated liquid.

Still anothef obiect of the pfeSent invention is to pfo vide a11in1proved iniectof noZzle aSSeInbly for a caTbonator Capable of beingeaSily adiUSted for a particular degtee of ca1-bonation, the noZzleaSSen1bly also being capable of USe vvith pfen1ixed liquids of watef andsyfup vvithout clogging.

A furthef obiect of the preSent invention is to provide an iInprovedcafbonatof vvhich is Inofe efIicient, SiIIlplef to fnanufacture, andlovvef in coSt in IIlanufactuTing the pfeviouS cafbonatofS yet havingfnofe 11tility fof 11Se vvith diffefent types of HquidS, SUch asbevefages.

AndHafy to the immediately pfeceding object it iS Sti11 anotheT obiectof the pfeSent invention to pfovide a cafbonafof in which the contfo1 ofthe en iciency of caf bonation is directly in the carbonatof tank whenothef factors of ca1-bonation feInain constant.

These and othef obiectS and advantages of the pefSenf inventfon vvillappeaf Inofe fully iI1 the follovVing Speci fication, claiIns anddfawingS in Which:

FIG. 1 is a diagran1Inatic view of a typical bottling sySteII111tilizing the cafbonating appafatus of the pfeSent coInpletohofnogenization of gaS into the liq11id stfeaIT1. ThiS pfovidos a Inofou11ifofn1 absofption by the liql1id.

111e aII1ount of Satufation of the 1iquid fof 3. give11 pfessufe ofcafbon dioxide gas in the tank 50 can be easily contTolled by varyingthe croSS-sectional afea of fhe fe- Stricted passage 98. This iS done byfotating the cap n1en1 bef 104 one way of the )thI to oithef incfeaSe ofde crease the paSSage. If the paSSagevvay is decreaSed inofoSS-Sectional afea, the velocity of the liqI1id paSSing .thefethooghWin be incfeased and, alSo, the pfeSSnTo dfop acfoSS the outlet of theannnlaf gfoove 112 vvin incfease. ThiS vvifl cauSe Inore cafbon dioxidogas to be injected into the stfeam of liql1id pof unit voluIne of thesanle. ConveTSely, aS the gap betvveen the body Inen1bof 70 and the headT1en1bef 96 iS incfeased, the velocity of the Stfean1 paSSing thfoughthe feStfioted paSSage 98 iS de cfeased t() lovvef the pfeSSUfe dfop andthnS decfease the an1ount of carbon dioxide gaS being injected into theStTeam.

The aTTangeInent of cafbonating appafatus iust de Scribed iSconSidefably Tnofe efficient than the appafatus hefetofofe considefed aSa gfeater volun1e of liquid Inay be cafbonatod at conSidefably 1ovefpfeSSufes within the cafbonating tank. Fof eXanlple, the pTiof aTtcarbonatofs operated at 30 to 90 poundS pef Square inch and theyutilized the length of the labyfinth How of the filn plateS pluS thetiIne to ow ovef the filIn plateS to control the caTbonating Tate ofappfoxin1ately Z 5 00 ganons pef houf. With the preSent carbonatof, thesaTne anlount of betteI cafbonation of liquid can be obtained atpfessure of 20 to 60 pounds peT SquaTe inch, depending on the adjust-Inent of the noZZle injection aSSeII1bly and at a 1 ate of 3,600 gaHonSpor 11oUr.

It Win be underStood that the adiuStnTent featufe of the noZZ1einiection aSSeInbly 68 pfovideS for a wide fange of SatuTation of aliquid fof a pafticulaf pfoduct. Fof exan1ple, if a cola pToduct is tobe carbonated, it is desif able to have about 3.S voluInes of carbondioxide gas in the salTle Whereas a soda vvateT pfoduct WoI11d have anyvvhere ffoIn 6 to 8 volon1es of oarbon dioxide gas. Merely by adjUStingthe siZe of tho feStfictive paSSage 98 both of SUch bevefages oaI1 beaccoInn1odated in this SySton1 qllite eaSily. AfSo, it vVi11 beappfeciated that an even vvidef fange of cafbonation can be obtained byadiusting the preSSUTo of cafboI1 dioxide gaS vvithin the tank 10 byl1Se of the Tegulator 44. 111 SoIne inStances vvhefo the bevefage isquifo t1I1Stable, the high velocity of fiovv of liquid thtough thonozzle injection appafatuS is not de sifable. In theSe caSes, the cap ofthe Testficted pasSage 98 can be incTeased to fednce the velocity bl1tin oTdef to obtain the propef aIT1ount of satufation, then it woUld benecossafy to inorease the pfessufe of cafbon dioxido gas vvithin thetank.

The vefI1ier Scale 110 provided on the exfenSion 90 1Tlay be oalibTatedfof cafbonation of the liq11id of a )afticulaf product. once the Scalehas been calibfated, the 11ozzle iniection appafatuS 08 nlay be eaSilyadiuSted fof fhe pafticulaf boverage to give a unifofII1 product WhenSWitching back and fofth betvveen diffeTent bevefages.

vvhile the tank so of the caTbonating appafatus 10 iS disolosed withontthe usual 1n1 plates for pfoviding a labyTinth How path foT the HqUidiI1 the tank, it n1ay be deSiTablo to 11tilize filIn plateS, eSpecianyvvhefe a highly unstable bevefago iS being haTldled and it is neceSSafyto InaintaiI1 the Same aS quiescent as poSSible. T'he nSe of the filInplates vvonld I1ot only pfovide a gentle ovv of the liquid i11to thecarbonating tank and dovvn to the botton1 of the saole but Would alsofI1nctioI1 to f11Tthef aSsist in the satufation of the cafbon dioxidogas into the 1iquid.

^x1though the caTbonating appaTatUS disclosed in thiS application haSbeen descfibed in consideTable detail, it 1Tlust bo undefStood that theapparatnS may be modined vvithouf depafting ffoII1 the Spifit and scopeof the inve11 tion. ThefefoTe,he tefIninology used in the specificationis for the pufpoSe of descfiption and 11ot lin1itation, the scope of theinvention being dened i11 the clainlS.

what iS clain1ed is:

1. A carbonating appafatus fo1 carbonating a liqI1id with apTedetefn1ined voluIT1e of cafbon dioxfde gaS coIn priSing= 3. closedtank; n1eanS to supply cafbon dioxide gas to the interiorofSai(1tank;iT1eans fof Supplying the liquid to be cafbonated to the uppefpoftion of Said tank, n1eans including a diScharge noZZlo aSSeIIlbly inSaid u pef poftion of said tank having a testficted passage thefethToughopening difectly into said tank fo1 SpTaying tho liqI1id into theintefiof of the tank, IneanS to adillst the ofoss sectional afea of SaidfestTicfed paSSage fof varying the velocity of the liqI1id ovvingthefethTongh aS a strean1 to a pfedefefn1ined velocity, IIleans defininga paSSagevvay thTough Said noZzlo aSSeInbly having one end openingdifectly info the intefiof of the tank and the othef ond openingdirectly into the festficted paSSage at a posi tion Whefe saidTestficted passage is adiuSted by Said ad jI1stInent IIleanS vvhefebycarbon dioXide gaS is Withdfavvn fToII1 the uppef portion of Said tankand is iniected difectly into the Stream of Hquid as it passeS throughthe fe stficfed paSage iI1 a pTedetefIfliIled volunle dependent Upon thecToSS Section of said festricted paSSage as pfovided by Said adiUStInentIneans; and n1eanS for diScharging the car bonated liquid ffoIn thebotton1 of Said tank.

2. A caTbonating apparatuS aS clainled in clain1 1 in vhich SaidadiustInent nleanS for adinSting the cToSS-Sectional area in SaidTestficted paSSage in Said noZZle asSen1 bly decreaSes thecross-Sectional area of Said Testricted paSSage foI incfeaSing thevelocity of the Strean1 of liquid 11ovving therethTongh to therebyincreaSe the anount of cafbon dioXide gaS iniected thefeiI1 fhfough thegas pas Sagevvay in Said noZzle and vice vefsa.

3. A caTbonating apparatuS aS claimed in claiIn 1 in cluding f1eanS tovafy the pfeSSufe of caTbon diOXide gas within the iIltefiof of Saidtank to a pfedetef1ined pfeS snre.

4. A carbonating apparatus as clain1ed in clain1 1 in vvhich the liquidto be carbonated iS a pren1ixtHfe of Watef and syrup.

5. A cafbonating apparatus aS claiIned in claiIT1 1 in Which saidfestficted paSSage thfough said noZZle aSSen1 bly iS conicalshaped anddiSchaTges the carbonated liqUid stfean1 thefeffom outwafdly anddownwafdly towaId the WaH of Said tank.

o. A cafbonating appaTatus fo1 caTbonating a liq11id vvith apfedeteTn1ined vo111Ine of carbon dioxide gaS con1 1)TiSiflg= 3 cloSedtank; nleanS to supply caTbon dioxide gas to the i11fefiof of Said tank;n1eans fof SUpplying liqllid to be cafbonated to the Uppef poTtion ofSaid tank, Said n1eanS including a diScharge noZzle assen1bly in theupper )ortion of Said tank having a1 adiI1Stable TeStTicfed paS Sagetherethfough fof spfaying the liqllid i11to the intefior of the tank ina Stfean1 at a pfedeter1ined velocity, Said dischafge noZzlo aSSemblycoInpriSing a nozzle body nleII1- ber olounted on the upper poftion ofSaid tank and having a paSSage thefethfough for the liqnid to becarbonated vvith a diSchafge end poftion of the passage iI1to the tankincfeaSing in diaInetof and being conical in shapo to denne one wall ofthe Testricted paSSage, a cotlplenlentafy concia1-Shaped nozZle headcaffied in the dischafgo end poftion of the paSSage of Said nozzle bodyand defining the other Wa11 of the Testficted passage, Said noZzle headhaving a stem extending throogh the paSSage i1 Said body and extefnalyof Said body, and IIloanS to nlove Said noZzle felative to Said I1ozzlebody to adi11st tho cfoSS sectional aTea of said TeStTicted paSSage,fneans dening a paSSagevvay thfough Said noZzle aSSeIIlbly having oneend opening to the i11tefiof of the tank and tho othef end opening tothe feStficted paSSage thefein fof iniecting caT bon dioxide gaS ffoII1the uppef poItion of said tank into the Stfean1 of liquid as it passesthfo11gh the feStficted paS Sage; and Ineans fof diSchafging thecafbonated liquid ffom the bottom of Said tank.

7. A cafbonating appafatUS as clained in clain1 6 in vvhich Said sten1of said noZzle head iS pfovided vvith an adiuStn1ent nut thTeadedlyfeceived on said nozzle body for adjuStably positioning said nozzle headfelative to Said I1oZZle body to adiuSt the feStficted paSSage tocontfol the velocit of the stteam of li uid.

8. A Cafbonating appafatnS as claifned in claiIn o in Which saidpasSageway thfough Said nozzle aSSen1bly iS positioned in Said noZzlehead.

9, A carbonating appaTatuS aS claiIned in clain1 8 in which the end ofSaid asSagevva o enin to the festTicted aSSage is a gfoovecifcuTnScribing the conical Sufface of Said nozzle body and in Which theend of Said paSSage Way opening to the intefiof of the tank inclndeS ap1UfaHty of paSSages coInn1uicating vvith said gfoove.

References Cifeli UNITED STATES PATENTs FOREIGN PATENTS AUstfalia.

TIM R. MILES, Pfifnafy Exan1inef U.s. CL X. R.

